September 28, 2018 (JST)

National Research and Development Agency
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

The H-II Transfer Vehicle "KOUNOTORI7" (HTV7) started its final approach to the International Space Station (ISS), and was captured by the ISS robotic arm at 20:36 p.m. on September 27 (Japanese Standard Time, JST). Being captured and maneuvered by the robotic arm, the HTV7 was successfully berthed to the ISS at 3:08 a.m. on September 28 (JST).

Once after berthing of vehicle, the internal and external cargo will be unloaded by the on board crew.

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The H-II Transfer Vehicle, "KOUNOTORI7"(HTV7) launched by the H-IIB rocket No.7 from Tanegashima Space Center on September 23, 2018, has been berthed to the International Space Station (ISS).

Following KOUNOTORI6, KOUNOTORI7 transported the heaviest ISS cargo in the world which contains the newly designed ISS batteries using Japanese lithium-ion cells, materials required for the ISS operation such as experiment racks of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and European Space Agency (ESA), and nano satellites ("CubeSats") for the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo". I am very proud of the fact that KOUNOTORI7 successfully delivered these items to the ISS and meet expectations of international partners thanks to those who engaged in development of KOUNOTORI 7 and the team in charge of its operation.

JAXA is planning to demonstrate re-entry technology from the ISS by using small re-entry capsule for the first time in Japan and high-efficiency heat rejection technology which is going to be adapted to Engineering Test Satellite IX in Kibo. At the same time, JAXA will make best efforts to the operation of KOUNOTORI7 until undocking from the ISS and reentrying to the atmosphere.

September 28, 2018
National Research and Development Agency
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
Hiroshi Yamakawa, President